Boost for hearing programs for children

Jay Weatherill says the Government recognises the importance of the centre's newborn screening program

ABC News

The Cora Barclay Centre for deaf and hearing-impaired children has been given a funding package of just over $2 million over three years.

The centre at North Adelaide has a reputation as a world leader in treating children with hearing problems.

The Cora Barclay board clashed with the South Australian Government over funding eight years ago when financial problems nearly forced it to close.

SA Early Childhood Development Minister Jay Weatherill says the Government recognises the importance of the centre's newborn screening program in particular.

"What we have here is a service that provides early intervention. We know that the earlier you can intervene, the difference that it can make for a young person in terms of their language and communication ability in later life is profound," he said.

Centre CEO Michael Forwood said it had been struggling to cope since the newborn screening started in 2006.

"The last four or five years have been really, really tough and it's largely because of the growth in numbers," he said.

"Our numbers here at the centre have more than trebled and our numbers who we support at school have increased by about 50 per cent."

Parent Michelle Braendler has three children using the centre's therapies.

She says she is breathing a sigh of relief that the centre will continue to offer great services to her family.

"Our children learn to speak so they can be in the mainstream community and if we come here they teach us how to teach our children and we can do it at home and then come here once a week and do a really good job of getting them to learn to talk," she said.